Athena was already up. She was trying to wrap her mind around what had happened, and in her new state-of-mind, that was hard to do. What did Athena hate more than anything else? Closed-minded skeptics, who belittled her for believing in the occult. For believing in magic. The other thing she hated was judgmental people. People like that Nadine Ferguson. Nadine never let Athena explain herself. She wasn't a devil-worshiper, like the Bible-thumper claimed. That girl was just so judgmental, jumping to conclusions with very little to go on.
And now, Athena found herself to be just like that. She knew magic existed, that she had actually dabbled in it somewhat, but now she was wondering if maybe she had imagined the whole thing. After all, magic couldn't really be real, right? It was just all fantasy, a way to make people cope with everyday problems, like reading comic books. She paused, wondering what was wrong with her. She knew magic was real, and she had a feeling that her change in reality had something to do with it, but as much as she tried to believe in it, she just couldn't bring herself to believing in something that just yesterday she was taking for granted. But was it so bad that she wasn't like that ... that witch, or whatever she was before? Wasn't it better not to worship the devil? Even though she knew full well that that's not something she did. She grabbed her head again, feeling really confused.
Suddenly, her cell phone rang. Needing a distraction from her conflicting thoughts, she answered it, and was surprised by who was on the other end.
"Athena?" the girl asked over the phone.
"Who is this?" Athena asked.
"It's Nadine Ferguson."
Picturing Nadine in her head, Athena felt relieved, thinking of her as a sort of kindred spirit, then paused. Wait a minute, I don't get along with her, do I? she thought.
"You have to help me," Nadine said. "My whole life has changed."
"Changed?" Athena asked. "How?"
"I'm like you now. A witch."
Athena's gut twisted in disgust. A witch? "Devil-worshiper," Athena spat.
"Huh?" Nadine asked, surprised.
"Don't call me again," Athena said, cutting the call.
Nadine stared at her phone. What the hell was that? I don't worship the devil. Do I? she thought. Although, oddly, she didn't seem to worry all that much if it turned out that she did.
